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LOT 159
Very Rare Factory Engraved
and Gold Inlaid Colt New Service
Double Action Revolver in .44-40 WCF
with Carved Ivory Steer Head Grips and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 323827, 44-40 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish,
carved steer head ivory grips. The included factory letter lists
this revolver in .44-40 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish,
factory engraving and gold inlays, and ivory stocks with carved
steer head motif. It was one of two revolvers of this type in a
shipment to Alfredo Gottling in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on
September 9, 1925, in order 8435. Gottling’s shop, “La Portena,”
catered to the elite in Argentina and thus was a key retailer of
some of the most extravagant Colt revolvers and other fine
arms, receiving a large portion of the known factory engraved
and gold inlaid Colt revolvers of the period. Factory gold inlaid
and engraved Colt New Service revolvers in particular are
extremely rare. On page 364 of “The Book of Colt Firearms,”
R. L. Wilson stated fewer than 75 New Service Revolvers
were engraved and fewer than a combined 15 New Service
and Shooting Master revolvers were gold inlaid, typically as
inscriptions. This revolver is factory engraved in an “A” coverage
(approximately 25%) with an elaborate gold arabesque inlay
on each side of the frame. The engraving consist of floral
scroll patterns intermixed with some geometric highlights
associated with Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn (Colt engraver, c.
1919-1950). The top of the barrel has the two-line Colt factory
address and patent dates, and the left side is marked “NEW
SERVICE 44-40”. The revolver has a factory installed and lettered
set of carved ivory grips that depict a raised steer head on the
right side and have the initials “L.S.A” in fancy script incised on
the left. Both sides have the Colt silver medallions at the top.
The frame is numbered “323827”, and the matching number on
the back side of the cylinder crane. The cylinder has matching
engraving and wear patterns. The butt is fitted with a lanyard
loop.
CONDITION: Very fine overall with 60% plus of the original blue
finish remaining overall, blue loss on both sides of the barrel,
and some browning on the cylinder and rear back strap. The
grips are very fine overall with a nice tight fit on the frame, a
wonderful mellow patina, and very minor circular age lines on
the undersides. The steer head carving retains great detail. The
factory gold inlays on each side of the frame are all complete.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "The Book of Colt Firearms"
by R.L. Wilson, fewer than 75 Colt New
Service revolvers were engraved and fewer
than a combined 15 Colt New Service and
Shooting Master revolvers were gold inlaid.
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